About the role#
As AI clusters grow, optical interconnects define the limits of computing power, bandwidth, and latency. This 6-month co-op focuses on system-level analysis for next-generation optical networking. You will build end-to-end link models and translate your findings into technical requirements that guide our device and circuit roadmaps. You will work alongside experts in photonics, packaging, and systems to solve open-ended architecture problems.
What you'll do#
- Build end-to-end models of high-speed optical links across electrical, optical, and system domains.
- Develop loss models for fiber, connectors, couplers, waveguides, and packaging interfaces to measure their impact on link margin.
- Optimize link budgets for signal margin, power consumption, and latency.
- Compare modulation schemes, including PAM4, IM-DD, and coherent formats like QPSK and QAM, to analyze bandwidth, SNR, BER, reach, and power.
- Evaluate data-center networking architectures and quantify trade-offs.
- Calibrate your link models using measured device and circuit data.
- Perform sensitivity and design-space analyses to identify critical device and circuit parameters.
- Define technology targets based on system-level requirements and present your recommendations to engineering teams and leadership.
What you'll need#
- Current enrollment in a PhD program for Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Photonics, Applied Physics, or a related field.
- Research experience in communication systems, optical links, or high-speed interconnects.
- A strong foundation in high-speed links, link budgets, noise, SNR, BER, and modulation schemes.
- Hands-on experience with system simulation tools such as Python or MATLAB/Simulink.
- Ability to bridge the gap between device-level physics and system-level performance.
- Familiarity with data-center optical interconnects, equalization, FEC, SerDes, and DSP-based approaches.
- Understanding of optical components like transmitters, receivers, modulators, photodetectors, and lasers.
- Exposure to silicon photonics, co-packaged optics, and semiconductor fabrication processes.
- Experience with optimization, Monte Carlo, and multi-parameter trade-off analysis.
- Excellent communication skills and a collaborative mindset.
Location & details#
- Location: Irvine, California, United States.
- Term: Winter 2027 (January to June).
- Modality: On-site.
- This is a paid, full-time position.
About Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
Skyworks Solutions produces analog semiconductors for wireless networking. The company serves markets including automotive, aerospace, medical, and cellular infrastructure. It maintains operations across North America, Asia, and Europe. Headquartered in Irvine, California, the firm employs between 5,001 and 10,000 people. It is a public company listed on the Nasdaq-100 and S&P 500 indices.
How to get in at Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
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